Description
This Crispy Crab Appetizer features tender lump crab meat blended with cream cheese, mayonnaise, Dijon mustard, and flavorful seasonings, all baked in crispy wonton wrappers. Perfect as an elegant yet easy-to-make seafood starter, these golden, bite-sized crab cups are served warm with sweet chili sauce or lemon wedges for a delightful balance of savory and tangy flavors.
Ingredients
Scale
Crab Mixture
- 8 ounces lump crab meat, drained and picked over
- ¼ cup cream cheese, softened
- 2 tablespoons mayonnaise
- 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
- 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
- 1 green onion, finely chopped
- 1 garlic clove, minced
- ½ teaspoon Old Bay seasoning
- Salt and pepper, to taste
Assembly
- 10–12 wonton wrappers or phyllo cups
- Olive oil or cooking spray, for brushing or spraying
Serving
- Sweet chili sauce or lemon wedges
Instructions
- Preheat oven: Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C) to ensure it reaches the perfect temperature for baking the crab cups evenly and crisply.
- Prepare crab filling: In a medium mixing bowl, combine the lump crab meat, softened cream cheese, mayonnaise, Dijon mustard, Worcestershire sauce, finely chopped green onion, minced garlic, Old Bay seasoning, salt, and pepper. Stir everything gently but thoroughly until the mixture is evenly combined without breaking up the crab meat too much.
- Prepare muffin tin: Lightly grease a mini muffin tin or line a baking sheet if using phyllo cups. Press each wonton wrapper gently into each muffin cup, shaping it carefully to form a small cup that will hold the filling.
- Fill wonton cups: Spoon about 1 tablespoon of the crab mixture into each wonton wrapper or phyllo shell. Be careful not to overfill to prevent spillover during baking.
- Brush with oil: Lightly spray or brush the tops of each filled cup with olive oil or cooking spray to help achieve a golden, crispy edge as they bake.
- Bake: Place the muffin tin in the preheated oven and bake the crab cups for 12 to 15 minutes, until the edges are golden brown and the filling is hot and bubbly.
- Cool and serve: Remove from oven and allow the crab appetizers to cool for a few minutes to set before serving. Serve warm accompanied by sweet chili sauce or fresh lemon wedges for a bright finish.
Notes
- For convenience, use pre-made phyllo cups instead of shaping wonton wrappers yourself.
- Add a dash of hot sauce or diced jalapeño to the crab mixture for a spicy variation.
- These crab appetizers can be prepared ahead of time and reheated in the oven at 350°F (175°C) for 5–7 minutes before serving.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Appetizer
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
